Computer operation control and item selection and vending methods and systems

ABSTRACT

A signal is transmitted into a computer in response to an image on a display screen of the computer such that the computer operates in response to the signal; this includes moving a scanner in optical communication with the display screen such that the scanner detects an image (for example, a bar code) displayed on the screen and generates the signal in response. One or more computers may be used, and this may be used for vending a product or other purposes. With or without such scanning, a portion of a store environment may be displayed on a screen of a computer, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, in which images of actual products are accessed via the computer from a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. A vending system is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/127,514 filed Apr. 22, 2002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in part to computer-implemented shopping via acomputer network, such as the Internet. An aspect of this that can beapplied in other contexts is a computer operation control method thatincludes moving a scanner in optical communication with a computerscreen such that the scanner detects indicia displayed on the screen andgenerates a signal in response. A particular application of the presentinvention uses computer screen bar code scanning with a product vendor'spre-existing database of product and bar code information.

Computer communication networks, today primarily the Internet withregard to global access, have facilitated the exchange of informationand created new marketplaces. There have been many on-line retailbusinesses trying to sell products to on-line shoppers; however, atleast some of these on-line retail businesses have failed to prosper orsurvive. Various reasons may account for these difficulties, but one maybe a failure to make the on-line shopping experience easy or comfortableenough for the customer, whereby such businesses have failed to attractenough customers or enough sales volume to survive. Another reason maybe that establishing the business's on-line facility has not beensufficiently integrated with the vendor's pre-existing “brick andmortar” facility.

Many prior on-line vending sites have been list-driven so that a shoppermust read through lists of words describing the goods being marketed.This presents a different shopping experience than the highlynon-textual one a customer has come to use when going to actual“brick-and-mortar” stores. For example, a customer may recognize aparticular product by its packaging but not remember the specific brandname or the species (“Was that ‘original’ style I bought last time, orthe ‘modified’ style? I don't remember that, but I'll recognize it whenI see it.”). Another factor of this “appearance” or “image” type ofshopping is the product placement within the physical store environment(“I don't remember what it was exactly, but it was in this part of thestore next to the widgets.”) To accommodate such non-textual visualshopping techniques, on-line shopping needs to show actual productimages in their actual store configurations (or at least substantiallyso).

Some on-line marketing sites may also be less than ideal for thevendors. Whereas creating and maintaining an on-line vending environmentcan result in an essentially independent entity from the vendor'sexisting business, it would be more efficient to build on pre-existingparts of the pre-existing business in creating the on-line part of thebusiness. That is, there should be convergence rather than divergencebetween the tradition business and the new on-line business. Suchconvergence preferably can reduce at least some computer programmingcomplexity. One way to facilitate such convergence is to visuallyreplicate on-line the store appearance to enhance or create customeridentification with a vendor's physical brick-and-mortar store. Suchon-line convergence should preferably interface with the vendor'spre-existing operating system. For example, many vendors manageinventory through the use of bar code scanning as is well known. When acustomer at a physical store location selects an item and takes it to acheckout counter, the cashier scans a bar code on the product or itspackaging. This enters the transaction in the cash register, and it alsois used by the vendor's background inventory management system. It wouldbe desirable to incorporate a bar code (or other) scanning operation inon-line sales transactions for use in the same manner and with the samepre-existing vendor system as used for the physical store and inventory.

In view of the foregoing shortcomings, there is the need for an improvedcomputer operation control method that can be applied at least toon-line vending transactions. There is the need for a product selectioncommunication method such as may be used in selling products over acomputer network, such as the Internet. There is also the need for animproved method and system for selling or ordering items via a computersystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets at least some of the aforementioned needs byproviding novel and improved computer operation control methods, itemselection and communication methods, product vending and orderingmethods, and related vending systems.

One advantageous feature of the present invention is that it providesfor bar code or other indicia scanning directly from a computer screen.In at least some applications, the present invention may reduce oreliminate the need for computer programming used to provide “hotspotting” of screen images or locations that enable mouse pointing andclicking, which actions are replaced at least in part by the scanningfeature of the present invention. The present invention may helpconverge an on-line business with a pre-existing business by enablingon-line use of pre-existing databases keyed or linked to the scannedindicia (for example, bar codes). Interfacing with existing inventorydatabases may speed data access and reduce programming costs. It mayreduce start up costs by using other existing facilities or data, suchas for stores in which bar codes are displayed with products on shelves.

In a particular implementation, the present invention provides on-lineproduct images in visually replicated real store environments so thatcustomers can use their accustomed visual shopping skills instead ofmere textual list shopping. Product images may include the indicia usedas the code to be read in using the present invention. This mayfacilitate a customer's on-line shopping experience and a vendor'sdeployment and maintenance of its on-line site. This also may provideease of product selection by visual search and quick access to moreinformation and selection for inclusion in a “shopping cart” or list.

Although the invention is described in part by reference to on-line useand for product vending, the invention has other applications as well.One non-limiting example includes on-line access to product or otherinformation.

One definition of the present invention is as a computer operationcontrol method comprising transmitting into a computer a signal inresponse to an image on a display screen of the computer such that thecomputer operates in response to the signal. This includes moving ascanner in optical communication with a computer screen such that thescanner detects an image displayed on the screen and generates thesignal in response thereto. In one implementation, the image includes abar code image and moving a scanner includes using a bar code scanner toscan the bar code image. As another example, the image includes analphanumeric character and moving a scanner includes using an opticalcharacter recognition scanner to scan the alphanumeric character. As afurther example, the image includes a graphic element and moving ascanner includes using an optical scanner to scan the graphic element.

The present invention may also be defined in various ways as an itemselection communication method. One of these is as a method of selectingan item using a personal computer, comprising: accessing throughoperation of a personal computer, at the request of a user of thepersonal computer, a database of item information; displaying, through ascreen of the personal computer, in response to the accessed database,information for at least one item, including at least one scannableselector image; and moving a scanner adjacent the screen to opticallyscan the displayed selector image, generating a signal in responsethereto and communicating the signal to the personal computer, therebyselecting the corresponding item. In one implementation, accessing adatabase includes: going via a web browser program stored in thepersonal computer to a predetermined website on the Internet, thewebsite communicating with the database of item information; anddownloading to the personal computer, via the Internet, from thedatabase of item information, the information for displaying through ascreen of the personal computer. This may also comprise sending, inresponse to the signal generated-in response to moving the scanner andcommunicated to the personal computer, a communication via the Internetto the website to order the selected item. In another implementation,accessing a database includes using a local storage device in thepersonal computer containing the database of item information.

The present invention has particular use as, but is not limited to, aproduct vending method, comprising: displaying on a screen of a computera portion of a store environment, including showing images of actualproducts for sale at the store and showing scannable images respectivelyassociated with the products; changing the portion of the storeenvironment displayed on the screen until an image of an actual productto be selected and the respective scannable image are shown on thescreen; optically scanning the scannable image shown on the screen togenerate a signal in response thereto; and communicating the signal tothe computer.

Another example of the present invention is as a method of placing anorder for an item, comprising: under control of a client system,displaying on a computer of the client system information identifyingthe item, and sending a request to order the item, including scanning abar code image displayed on the computer of the client system, whereinthe bar code image is related to the item; and under control of a serversystem, receiving the request, and generating an order to purchase therequested item. In one particular implementation, the bar code image hasa width of at least about 4.6 centimeters and a height of at least about1.1 centimeters. In another particular implementation, but again notlimiting of broader aspects of the invention, the bar code image has awidth of at least about 1.6 centimeters and a height of at least about0.5 centimeter.

Still another aspect of the present invention, whether with the scanningfeature or not, is the rendition of the in-store environment. This canbe either real time/live or pre-recorded. Even if pre-recorded, however,the rendition is preferably substantially the same as the real-timeappearance of the store existing at the time a user is seeing the storeimage displayed on his or her computer. Accordingly, the presentinvention also provides a product vending method, comprising displayingon a screen of a computer a portion of a store environment, includingshowing images of actual products for sale at the store, wherein showingimages of actual products includes accessing via the computer a databasecontaining in-store images recorded in the store during a period ofnon-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. The presentinvention also provides a method as just described and wherein theperiod of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store is alsoone in which a product layout configuration in the store issubstantially the same as the corresponding actual product layoutconfiguration existing in the store at the time of the displaying.

The present invention also provides a vending system, comprising: avendor's database of item information linked to respective selectorindicia information; and a computer site configured to load item andselector indicia information from the product vendor's database, thecomputer site including: a computer having a screen for displayingloaded item and selector indicia information; and a scannercommunicating with the computer for scanning displayed selector indiciainformation shown on the screen and for sending responsive signals tothe computer. This may further comprise an Internet website that isaccessible to the computer site and that communicates with the vendor'sdatabase. As another example, it may comprise a portable memory devicehaving the vendor's database disposed thereon and compatible for usewith the computer.

Therefore, from the foregoing, it is a general object of the presentinvention to provide novel and improved computer operation controlmethods, item selection and communication methods, product vending andordering methods, and related product vending systems. Other and furtherobjects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art when the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an image displayed on a computerscreen and read by a manually used scanner communicating with thecomputer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system in which displayed information isobtained locally from a memory of the computer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system in which displayed information isobtained remotely from another computer.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a client system that may be used toimplement the local computer of the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a website link that may be used toimplement the computer link of the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 represents a personal computer configured to provide an interfacein accordance with the present invention, wherein one view of aninterface display visually replicates looking at an actual in-store viewand displays scannable indicia by which products can be ordered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a computer 2 having an operatively associateddisplay screen 4 operates in response to or using signals from a scanner6 (“or” as used in this specification, including the claims, isinclusive—that is, meaning any or one or more combinations of the listeditems—unless otherwise specified). This is one example of equipment thatcan be used to implement a computer operation control method of thepresent invention. This method comprises transmitting into a computer asignal in response to an image on a display screen of the computer suchthat the computer operates in response to the signal. This specificallyincludes moving a scanner in optical communication with the displayscreen such that the scanner detects an image displayed on the screenand generates the signal in response.

The image displayed on the screen can be any indicia 8 definingdecodable information. Non-limiting examples of the indicia 8 include abar code (for example, a Uniform Resource Locator image), alphanumericcharacters (that is, letters or numbers), and graphic elements. Graphicelements can include, for example, product images or labels oradvertisements that, when scanned, are matched with a database toprovide information about the products. Thus, in the particularimplementations described herein, the indicia 8 to be scanned areselected from the group consisting of a bar code image, an alphanumericimage, and a graphic image.

These indicia 8 are to be detected using suitable scanning equipmentsuch as, for example, a bar code scanner, an optical characterrecognition scanner, or an optical scanner. In the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, these provide optical or laser scanning of theindicia.

Use of the foregoing enables the present invention to provide an itemselection communication method. One step of this includes displayingitem indicia (for example, a product image) and related scannableidentifier indicia (the aforementioned indicia 8) on a screen of acomputer. Referring to FIG. 2, these indicia are embodied in signalsobtained from a memory 10 of the computer 2 under control of a centralprocessing unit (cpu) 12 of the computer. Another step includes moving ascanner such that the scanner senses the scannable identifier indiciadisplayed on the computer screen. A further step includes communicatinga signal from the scanner to the computer in response to the scannersensing the scannable identifier indicia. From this, a list of productscan be generated in response to communicating the signal from thescanner to the computer. Thus, the signal sent can define informationneeded to generate an order for the item. The signal can be obtained bymanually moving the scanner 6 adjacent the portion of the computerdisplay screen 4 used in displaying the scannable image. In theillustration of FIG. 2, the signal from the scanner 6 can be in anysuitable format, whether parallel for communication via a bus 14 of thecpu 12 or serial for communication via a serial port 16 for the cpu 12.

Whereas FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate use of the present invention with asingle computer, FIG. 3 represents use with two (or more) computers.Through this aspect of the present invention, an item can be selectedusing a client and server system. This includes displaying on a screen20 of client system 18 information identifying the item and displayingon the screen 20 of the client system 18 a scannable image that is to beused to select the identified item. In response to a user selecting theitem by manually optically scanning the displayed scannable image, suchas in the same manner for computer 2 of FIGS. 1 and 2, a signalidentifying the selected item is sent to a server system 22. The signalsent to the server system 22 preferably defines information needed togenerate an order for the item. Displaying in this example of FIG. 3includes transmitting signals representing the item indicia and relatedscannable identifier indicia over a network from the server 22 to theclient 18, such as over an intranet or local area network or globalnetwork (the Internet, for example). From this, a list of items can begenerated in response to communicating a signal from the scanner to theclient computer and an order generated from the client to the server.Thus, the signal sent to the server system defines information needed togenerate an order for the item. The initial item selection signal can beobtained by manually moving the scanner adjacent the portion of thecomputer display screen used in the client's system in displaying thescannable image.

Whether it includes obtaining the item and identifier indicia locally,such as from a memory in the computer (for example, hard-drive) or oneloaded into the computer (for example, CD-ROM or diskette) or via someexternal source, such as may be connected via local area network or theInternet, for example, the method of selecting an item illustrated inthe drawings comprises accessing through operation of a personalcomputer, at the request of a user of the personal computer, a databaseof item information. In FIGS. 1 and 2, this database is stored on thelocal memory 10; and in FIG. 3, it is the represented database 24 storedwith or apart from the server computer 26 providing the link to theclient computer 18. Non-limiting examples of the database include aninventory control system, a price database, and an order fillingdatabase, each which may be of a type as known in the art. It furthercomprises displaying, through a screen of the personal computer, inresponse to the accessed database, information for at least one item,including at least one scannable selector image. Such method furthercomprises moving a scanner adjacent the screen to optically scan thedisplayed selector image, generating a signal in response thereto andcommunicating the signal to the personal computer, thereby selecting thecorresponding displayed item.

As mentioned above, accessing the database can include use of theInternet. This can include going via a web browser program stored in thepersonal computer 2 or 18 to a predetermined website on the Internet,such as provided using the server computer link 26 which communicateswith the database 24 of item information. This further includesdownloading to the personal computer, via the Internet, from thedatabase of item information, the information for displaying through ascreen of the personal computer. Accessing the database can also includeother techniques, one of which as mentioned above includes using a localstorage device in the personal computer containing the database of iteminformation. Regardless where the item information is stored, acommunication to order the selected item can be sent via the Internet tothe website for a configuration as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the local or client computer 2 or 18 typicallyincludes the components shown in FIGS. 1-3 and reiterated generically inFIG. 4. Within the cpu and its memory, however, are the operating system(for example, Windows, Apple) and application and utility programsneeded to perform functions of the present invention and ones as aretypical of a personal computer. Any specific programming, such as(without limitation) for receiving and processing signals from thescanner and communicating with local or remote devices (for example, alocal monitor or a remote Internet site), can be of types known in theart for particular implementations of the equipment. FIG. 4 shows suchprogramming (including data) including a web browser, the itemidentifier database and the scanner interface and signal use software(that is, the software needed to generate a selection or order and tocommunicate that locally or remotely).

FIG. 5 represents types of software needed at the server end for animplementation such as illustrated in FIG. 3. This includes datastorage, signal transmitting and signal receiving software, all of whichcan be of types known in the art for particular equipment and functionsselected.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention as illustrated in FIG.3, and with a more particular illustration of the personal computer 18shown in FIG. 6, can also be defined as an item selection communicationmethod, one step of which includes transmitting signals from a firstcomputer (for example, the server 22) to a second computer (for example,the computer 18) and in response generating at the second computer adisplay showing an image including a visual identifier correlated to arespective item. This method also includes scanning the visualidentifier from a locus adjacent to but exteriorly of the secondcomputer (that is, in the illustrated embodiment, outside the displaydevice, and thus on the exterior of the computer—as contrasted withinteriorly detecting such as via “hot spotting” and detecting cursorlocation). A further step includes receiving at least at the secondcomputer a signal responsive to the scanning. To facilitate productselection when the item is a product for sale, the display generated inthe illustration of FIG. 6 preferably includes some type of view from astore from which the products are actually marketed. This can be acurrent real time view (that is, a live view), or a pre-recorded earlierview of the store; and one may be a primary view and the other asecondary or back-up view. If it is a pre-recorded view, preferably ithas a product layout configuration substantially the same as at the timethe display is generated so that the consumer (that is, the user of thelocal or client computer) sees the configuration substantially as itwould be seen if or when the consumer goes to the actual store.

FIG. 6 illustrates the computer 18 as simultaneously displaying on itsscreen the following: (1) an in-store view 28 visually replicating atleast part of a merchandise section in a store having products for salein merchandise sections across an area of the store, (2) a map view 30having graphical indicia showing the merchandise sections and theirrelative locations across the area of the store, (3) movement controlindicia 32 enabling a user to change images in the in-store view, (4) aproduct information view 34 showing a product selected by the user fromthe in-store view and also showing the scannable identifier that can bescanned to select the item for purchase, and (5) a product selectionarea 36 identifying products selected for purchase by the user. This mayfurther include product name and price information. This may alsoinclude directory indicia 38 identifying locations and productcategories viewable within the in-store view. The in-store view 28 mayinclude showing images of products arranged on shelves in aisles. Themovement control indicia 32 may enable in the in-store view visuallyreplicating continuous movement forward and back and left and rightalong the aisles, up and down the shelves in the aisles, and left andright turns at ends of the aisles. In one particular implementation, thein-store view 28 shows images of products and bar code imagesrespectfully associated with the product images. This viewing areapreferably can be controlled by the user so that a selected portion ofthe in-store view is enlarged to ensure that the respective bar codeimage for a desired product shown in the enlarged portion has aresolution sufficient for the scanner to read.

The in-store images can be live or pre-recorded. As to the latter, oneexample is that in-store images can be taken (by any suitable meansknown in the art, one non-limiting example of which includes a digitalvideo camera) while the store is empty or substantially so (that is,there is non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store, such asat night for stores that close or have fewer customers at that time) andstored for use during the next business day or for a given increment oftime. This allows an up-to-date database of in-store images without theneed to interfere with shoppers' feelings of privacy or usual businessactivities during regular or busier business hours.

From the foregoing, the present invention can also be defined as amethod of selecting an item using a personal computer. This methodcomprises accessing, at the request of a user of the personal computer,the Internet using a web browser program stored in the personalcomputer. It also includes going via the web browser program directly toan item vendor's website on the Internet (such as “vendor.com” in FIG.6). The website communicates with a database of item and bar codeinformation maintained by the item vendor. The item and bar codeinformation includes information representing an actual storeenvironment maintained by the item vendor. Information about at least aportion of the actual store environment and at least one item and itsrelated bar code are downloaded to the personal computer, via theInternet, from the item and bar code information. Images of the portionof the actual store environment, and of at least one item and relatedbar code where actually located in the portion of the actual storedisplayed, are displayed through a screen of the personal computer inresponse to the downloaded information. The method further includesmoving a bar code scanner adjacent the outside of the screen tooptically scan the displayed bar code image, generating a signal inresponse thereto and communicating the signal to the personal computer,thereby selecting the corresponding displayed item. This may furthercomprise sending a communication via the Internet to the website toorder the selected item.

The present invention may also be defined as a particular method ofplacing an order for an item. This particular method comprises, undercontrol of a client system, displaying on a computer of the clientsystem information identifying the item, and sending a request to orderthe item, including scanning a bar code image displayed on the computerof the client system, wherein the bar code image is related to the item.The method also comprises, under control of a server system, receivingthe request and generating an order to purchase the requested item. Thiscan be defined more particularly as a product vending method comprising:displaying on a screen of a computer a portion of a store environment,including showing images of actual products for sale at the store andshowing scannable images respectfully associated with the products. Thismethod also comprises changing the portion of the store environmentdisplayed on the screen until an image of an actual product to beselected and the respective scannable image are shown on the screen.This method also comprises optically scanning the scannable image shownon the screen to generate a signal in response thereto, andcommunicating the signal to the computer. Displaying includestransmitting signals representing the images of actual products andscannable images associated therewith over the Internet to the computeror obtaining signals representing images of actual products andscannable images from a memory of the computer. This method furthercomprises generating a list of products in response to communicating thesignal to the computer. The method can also comprise transmitting asignal from the computer and over the Internet in response tocommunicating the signal to the computer.

Thus, information handling, as provided by the present invention, can beperformed locally via a single computer or in conjunction with one ormore other computers. The scanning can communicate information obtainedfrom the screen of one computer to that computer or to a second computerfrom which a response can be obtained, such as to display on the displayscreen of the locally used computer for further action by the user.

Referring to the various drawings, the present invention also provides avending system. This comprises a vendor's database (for example in thememory 10 of FIG. 2 or database 24 of FIG. 3) of item information linkedto respective selector indicia information. The system also comprises acomputer site configured to load item and selector indicia informationfrom the vendor's database. The computer site includes: a computerhaving a screen for displaying loaded item and selector indiciainformation; and a scanner communicating with the computer for scanningdisplayed selector indicia information shown on the screen and forsending responsive signals to the computer. The foregoing can furthercomprise an Internet website accessible to the computer site andcommunicating with the vendor's database. Alternatively or additionally,it can further comprise a portable memory device having the vendor'sdatabase disposed on it and compatible for use with the computer.

EXAMPLES

Indicia

Code 39 is a standard bar code in a non-food area. Code 128 is analternative bar code which has extra character capability.

Computer Screen Settings

Code 39 and code 128 bar codes were read at 800×600 pixels and 1024×768pixels computer screen resolution settings of a 12-inches×9-inches (30.5centimeters×22.9 centimeters) display screen; however, in general,settings and image size should be selected to be compatible with thecapability of the selected scanner (that is, the capability of thescanner is determinative).

In-store View

TrueLook software is available from Perceptual Robotics, Inc. Thissoftware can provide live or recent multiple camera views of acommercial environment. It has the zoom capability to view bar codes ofsufficient size to be scanned by this basic equipment. The TrueLooksoftware uses a network of cameras that allows the user to manipulateand explore the on-screen display of live or past pictures of a realsetting.

Test Data

-   -   Scanner: Alpha 22 Scanner made by Zebex Industries, Inc.    -   Computer screen: Professional Series PT771 ViewSonic having        screen size of 12 inches by 9 inches (30.5 centimeters×22.9        centimeters)

Computer: Dell Optiplex GX1, 450 MHz (includes PS2 keyboard connectorthrough which scanner communicates); Windows NT (version 4.0, servicepack 6.0) Code Display Size Pixel Setting Low Density (length & heightof bar) Result 800 × 600 39 2 12/32″ × 18/32″  Read (6.0 cm × 1.4 cm)800 × 600 128 2 12/32″ × 18/32″  Read (6.0 cm × 1.4 cm) 1024 × 768  39 126/32″ × 14/32″  Read (4.6 cm × 1.1 cm) 1024 × 768  128 1 26/32″ ×14/32″  Read (4.6 cm × 1.1 cm) 1280 × 1024 39 — No Reads 1280 × 1024 128— No Reads

The standard code 39 and code 128 low density bar codes were printed onconventional white printer paper. The printed version was reduced suchthat the code 39 low density setting bar length was 23/32 inch (1.8centimeters) with a height of 6/32 inch (0.5 centimeter); the scannerread this from the piece of paper. The code 128 was read at a bar lengthof 20/32 inch (1.6 centimeters) with a height of 6/32 inch (0.5centimeter). It is anticipated that the scanner would read codes of thissize on the screen, but no tests were run for that small size on thecomputer screen.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects andattain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherenttherein. While preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed for the purpose of this disclosure, changes in theconstruction and arrangement of parts and the performance of steps canbe made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassedwithin the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. An item selection communication method, comprising:transmitting signals from a first computer to a second computer and inresponse thereto generating at the second computer a display showing animage including a visual identifier correlated to a respective item;scanning the visual identifier from a locus adjacent to but exteriorlyof the second computer; and receiving at least at the second computer asignal responsive to the scanning.
 7. An item selection communicationmethod as defined in claim 6, wherein the display generated includes acurrent real time view from a store.
 8. An item selection communicationmethod as defined in claim 6, wherein the display generated includes anearlier view of a store.
 9. An item selection communication method asdefined in claim 8, wherein the earlier view of the store includes aproduct layout configuration substantially the same as at the time thedisplay is generated.
 10. An item selection communication method asdefined in claim 6, wherein the visual identifier includes a bar codeimage and scanning includes using a bar code scanner to scan the barcode image.
 11. An item selection communication method as defined inclaim 6, wherein the visual identifier includes an alphanumericcharacter and scanning includes using an optical character recognitionscanner to scan the alphanumeric character.
 12. An item selectioncommunication method as defined in claim 6, wherein the visualidentifier includes a graphic element and scanning includes using anoptical scanner to scan the graphic element.
 13. An item selectioncommunication method as defined in claim 6, wherein the visualidentifier includes at least one image selected from the groupconsisting of a bar code image, an alphanumeric image, and a graphicimage.
 14. An item selection communication method, comprising:displaying item indicia and related scannable identifier indicia on ascreen of a computer; moving a scanner such that the scanner senses thescannable identifier indicia displayed on the computer screen; andcommunicating a signal from the scanner to the computer in response tothe scanner sensing the scannable identifier indicia.
 15. An itemselection communication method as defined in claim 14, whereindisplaying includes transmitting signals representing the item indiciaand related scannable identifier indicia over the Internet to thecomputer.
 16. An item selection communication method as defined in claim14, wherein displaying includes obtaining signals representing the itemindicia and related scannable identifier indicia from a memory of thecomputer.
 17. An item selection communication method as defined in claim14, further comprising generating a list of items in response tocommunicating a signal from the scanner to the computer.
 18. An itemselection communication method as defined in claim 14, furthercomprising transmitting a signal from the computer and over the Internetin response to communicating a signal from the scanner to the computer.19. A product vending method, comprising: displaying on a screen of acomputer a portion of a store environment, including showing images ofactual products for sale at the store and showing scannable imagesrespectively associated with the products; changing the portion of thestore environment displayed on the screen until an image of an actualproduct to be selected and the respective scannable image are shown onthe screen; optically scanning the scannable image shown on the screento generate a signal in response thereto; and communicating the signalto the computer.
 20. A product vending method as defined in claim 19,wherein displaying includes transmitting signals representing the imagesof actual products and scannable images associated therewith over theInternet to the computer.
 21. A product vending method as defined inclaim 19, wherein displaying includes obtaining signals representing theimages of actual products and scannable images from a memory of thecomputer.
 22. A product vending method as defined in claim 19, furthercomprising generating a list of products in response to communicatingthe signal to the computer.
 23. A product vending method as defined inclaim 19, further comprising transmitting a signal from the computer andover the Internet in response to communicating the signal to thecomputer.
 24. A method for selecting an item using a client system,comprising: displaying on a screen of the client system informationidentifying the item and displaying on the screen of the client system ascannable image that is to be used to select the identified item; and inresponse to a user selecting the item by manually optically scanning thedisplayed scannable image, sending to a server system a signalidentifying the selected item.
 25. A method as defined in claim 24,wherein the signal sent to the server system defines information neededto generate an order for the item.
 26. A method as defined in claim 25,wherein the client system and server system communicate via theInternet.
 27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein manuallyoptically scanning includes manually moving an optical scanner adjacentthe portion of a computer display screen used in the client system indisplaying the scannable image.
 28. A method of selecting an item usinga personal computer, comprising: accessing through operation of apersonal computer, at the request of a user of the personal computer, adatabase of item information; displaying, through a screen of thepersonal computer, in response to the accessed database, information forat least one item, including at least one scannable selector image; andmoving a scanner adjacent the screen to optically scan the displayedselector image, generating a signal in response thereto andcommunicating the signal to the personal computer, thereby selecting thecorresponding item.
 29. A method as defined in claim 28, whereinaccessing a database includes: going via a web browser program stored inthe personal computer to a predetermined website on the Internet, thewebsite communicating with the database of item information; anddownloading to the personal computer, via the Internet, from thedatabase of item information, the information for displaying through ascreen of the personal computer.
 30. A method as defined in claim 29,further comprising sending, in response to the signal generated inresponse to moving the scanner and communicated to the personalcomputer, a communication via the Internet to the website to order theselected item.
 31. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein accessing adatabase includes using a local storage device in the personal computercontaining the database of item information.
 32. A method of placing anorder for an item, comprising: under control of a client system,displaying on a computer of the client system information identifyingthe item; and sending a request to order the item, including scanning abar code image displayed on the computer of the client system, whereinthe bar code image is related to the item; and under control of a serversystem, receiving the request; and generating an order to purchase therequested item.
 33. A method of selecting an item using a personalcomputer, comprising: accessing, at the request of a user of thepersonal computer, the Internet using a web browser program stored inthe personal computer; going via the web browser program directly to anitem vendor's website on the Internet, the website communicating with adatabase of item and bar code information maintained by the item vendor,the item and bar code information including information representing anactual store environment maintained by the item vendor; downloading tothe personal computer, via the Internet, from the item and bar codeinformation, information about at least a portion of the actual storeenvironment and at least one item and its related bar code; displaying,through a screen of the personal computer, in response to the downloadedinformation, images of the portion of the actual store environment andthe at least one item and related bar code where actually located in theportion of the actual store displayed; and moving a bar code scanneradjacent the outside of the screen to optically scan the displayed barcode image, generating a signal in response thereto and communicatingthe signal to the personal computer, thereby selecting the correspondingdisplayed item.
 34. A method as defined in claim 33, further comprisingsending a communication via the Internet to the website to order theselected item.
 35. A product vending method, comprising displaying on ascreen of a computer a portion of a store environment, including showingimages of actual products for sale at the store, wherein showing imagesof actual products includes accessing via the computer a databasecontaining in-store images recorded in the store during a period ofnon-existent or minimal customer presence in the store.
 36. A productvending method as defined in claim 35, wherein the period ofnon-existent or minimal customer presence in the store is also one inwhich a product layout configuration in the store is substantially thesame as the corresponding actual product layout configuration existingin the store at the time of the displaying.
 37. A vending system,comprising: a vendor's database of item information linked to respectiveselector indicia information; and a computer site configured to loaditem and selector indicia information from the vendor's database, thecomputer site including: a computer having a screen for displayingloaded item and selector indicia information; and a scannercommunicating with the computer for scanning displayed selector indiciainformation shown on the screen and for sending responsive signals tothe computer.
 38. A vending system as defined in claim 37, furthercomprising an Internet website that is accessible to the computer siteand that communicates with the vendor's database.
 39. A vending systemas defined in claim 37, further comprising a portable memory devicehaving the vendor's database disposed thereon and compatible for usewith the computer.